Deverell, Eric Ernest
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Eric Ernest |
Surname | Deverell |
Gender | M |
Age | 29 |
Date of Death | 31-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charles and Agnes Idona Deverell, of Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD453 |
Markings | EY-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sp. Mem. 3. F. 18. |
Epitaph | AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND AT DAWN WE'LL REMEMBER HIM |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 155 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 410221 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Squadron Motto | Nemo non paratus (Nobody unprepared) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Clubhouse, Breighton Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at this airfield and gave their lives during World War II |
Location | External, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | 78 Sqn 4 Group Bomber Command Yorkshire 1939 - 1945 To All Who Served |
Location | Internal, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board, Memorial Chapel featuring Cross made from Halifax wreckage |
Memorial Text | The 78 Sqn Memorial in the Churchyard was dedicated by the Bishop of Selby on 7th September 1986. RAF Breighton, two miles from this church was the Sqn's home from June 1943 to May 1945 |
Location | Outside "B" Hangar, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of all who have lost their lives serving with 78 Sqn Royal Air Force "Nemo Non Paratus - Nobody Unprepared" |
Miscellaneous Information
Sgt Hunt was incapacitated and Sgt Collins left the controls to help him bale out. Sgt Collins then returned to the controls to hold the aircraft level whilst the others made good their escape but he was unable to bale out himself. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/76 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/75 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-08-1943 |
End Date | 31-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Mönchengladbach/ Rheydt. 660 aircraft, 25 losses (3.8%). PFF marked Mönchengladbach first and then after a two minute pause, the neighbouring town of Rheydt. Good visibility and Oboe assistance made for extremely accurate marking and as a result the bombing was concentrated with little creepback. Approximately half of both towns was destroyed with 1059 and 1280 buildings destroyed in the two towns (respectively). |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a combination of flak and night-fighters |